I visited this location recently and had an extremely disappointing experience from start to…read morefinish. Upon arriving, I was greeted by the front staff and walked inside, only to wait over 20 minutes without being served. It wasn't until a woman from the front came to the back and asked if we had been helped -- to which we said no -- that anyone acknowledged us. What made matters worse was witnessing the food preparation process firsthand. The cook handling our food was wearing the same gloves throughout -- touching the ground, doors, and handles -- and continued using those same gloves to prep food without changing them. This is a serious food safety and sanitation concern. When I approached the front to address this issue, a Caucasian male staff member claimed he had never seen me come in, refused to provide the owner's contact information, and instead questioned who I was rather than attempting to resolve the problem. He walked away and returned asking if my questions had been answered -- without actually answering any of them. This level of service, hygiene, and accountability is completely unacceptable. I strongly​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ongly urge management to review their food handling protocols and customer service practices immediately. They probably only operate that way because no one has called the health inspector being that they aren't open in the day time .

Maybe someone else who lives in New Orleans can get to the bottom of this, but I think -- and I can…read morestand corrected -- the old Dragon's Den is probably dead and there's a new operation under a different name at 435 Esplanade Ave. The Dragon's Den I remember from 17 years ago while playing a gig with others there was another one of those great upstairs-downstairs venues I really appreciated and loved back then. I remember the bar being to the right of the stage, but the patrons were actually into the music everyone played, not just focused on imbibing cocktails, wine and beer, etc. The acoustics were really good, as I recall -- pure sound, no issues whatsoever. I think the new name is Stellar, and it seems like a totally different operation, which is a shame. I never went to this location back in the days when Cafe Siam was located at 435 Esplanade, but I still cherish my Dragon's Den memories from years ago. You had to be there.

I went to a rock concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans and it was a pretty cool experience…read more The venue isn't huge, so it feels more personal, you can actually see the band well on stage. The sound was loud (in a good way), and the energy from the crowd was awesome! Drinks were pricey like you'd expect, but the staff was chill and kept things moving. The building has that old-school New Orleans vibe with lots of character, and it's right off Bourbon Street, so it's easy to make a whole night of it. Definitely a good spot to catch live music.

This is a Chain and with chains you get more of a theme, less local feel. However, they offer some…read morelocal favorites. Live music, lots of additional shows in the hall- an d great names you can see. Service was great- she was friendly and attentive Could not complain about the food. The burger was a nice break from all the creole style food in the area and the shrimp and cornbread was really good. The oysters however, were the smallest I had the entire trip and after 11 days, I ate a lot of oysters. For oysters, try another local place until HOB can compete.

Amazing show and even better memories! Would recommend for a girls trip…read more The food was also tasty!

I've been to some of the best burlesque and drag shows in the country. I've seen gravity defying,…read moresultry, sophisticated shows in New York. While this is not that . . . it's perfect for New Orleans and the south and has it's own flavor. I loved the show here! Madame Kennedy was the perfect emcee (and also put on a wicked black light bubble show). Some acts were sexy and seductive. Some acts were acrobatic and martial arts based, as Madame Kennedy said, "I'm sure someone is missing their anime character somewhere." There were hula hoops, feathers, and grinders! One act was a woman who put a grinder against a metal plate on her belt and sparks flew everywhere! I also saw my first (as far as I can remember) burlesque by a transgender man. It was so much fun! We did the reserved tickets, so we got a table right up front. There isn't a bad seat in the house, but I really prefer being in the center of the action. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7 PM show, but ours was running late (we didn't mind). They have a basic bar with decent prices. They also do dance classes, varying show themes, comedy routines, and more. So you'll always be able to see something different.

Before I start, this is my review based on my experience. I've noticed some people complain about…read morethe music, paying the cover charge, seating or the size of the venue. I'm not here to argue any of those points. I will say this: expecting live musicians to perform for free until you decide whether they're worth paying is ridiculous. The cover is usually only $5...$10 max. If that's a dealbreaker, this probably isn't your place. Stay home and stream Spotify. Now... I have some friends in town, and whenever that happens, a Monday night trip to the Spotted Cat is basically mandatory. I've been coming here for years and years. Yes, it's super touristy now, but it still gives me the warm fuzzies every time I walk through those doors. So I'm presenting the "compliment sandwich" review. Never heard of it? You start with a compliment, slip in some constructive-ish criticism, then end with another compliment. Supposedly people receive feedback better that way. Let's see. First, the music. Outstanding. Chris Christy wasn't what I thought I wanted to hear until I actually heard him. I felt completely transported. Man, can that guy play the guitar. It felt kinda like gypsy music. Then came the Frenchmen Street Allstars. The last time I saw them, they had a different lead singer and, honestly, they kind of felt like a completely different band, aside from the phenomenal drummer. This version did not disappoint. It was a great mix of jazz and New Orleans standards. Both bands were great! **Now a note to management.** Great music isn't enough. The bar should be every bit as memorable as the stage. Forgive me, I didn't get the bartenders' names, so I have to describe them by physical traits. The first bartender, the guy with the mountain of curly hair, was friendly enough and made decent drinks. Later, another bartender with a short haircut took over and made the best drinks of the night. Then there was the bartender with the black and hot pink hair. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. She rarely smiled, her demeanor felt unwelcoming, and it almost came across as hostile. On top of that, the drinks she made were so weak I genuinely wondered if there was any alcohol in them. Seriously. They were that bad. Here's my philosophy: if you're going to be grumpy, aloof, or have some other off-putting trait, you'd better make a mean drink. Years and years ago there was a bartender named Curtis who wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, but that man could make a cocktail. I didn't need him to smile because the drink did all the talking. If the drink is mostly soda, though, friendliness becomes a lot more important. Unfriendly and bad bartending is a double whammy. She must be somebody's child or partner because I can't think of any other reason to employ a bad bartender. I hate to belabor the point, but the drinks aren't cheap. Cheap and bad I can take. For another comparison, there's another bartender there, I'm pretty sure her name is Chris. She's been there for years. She's all business. Maybe a little surly. Who am I kidding? A lot surly. But she's a character. More importantly, she makes a great drink. That's the kind of personality that somehow fits the Spotted Cat perfectly. Now let me end with the final piece of "bread" on my compliment sandwich. The doorman deserves his own review. That gravelly-voiced "Welcome to the Spotted Cat!" is part of the experience. Then he absolutely hammers that stamp onto your wrist. Somehow you don't even mind because you know what's waiting on the other side: incredible music, a fun room, and one of the best nights you can have on Frenchmen Street. Just don't let the bartender with the pink and black hair make your drink.

We were hesitant because there were only a few people sitting at the bar when we walked in. It…read moreturned out that was the band, which meant it was just the two of us girls, so we decided we'd just have a drink and see what happens. It was 2 p.m. afterall, so not a lot of people were out in general. Turns out the band was great! Then people started trickling in and there was a good crowd enjoying the music with us. We had a great time, chatted with other patrons and a few of the band members. Good drinks, prices are on the higher end at ~$15, but still affordable. I had a Pimm's cup which was refreshing, they are served in souvenir to go cups that are really cute. Glad we decided to stay! A great time was had.

We hired Jon and and Brandon to lead an improv workshop for some college aged students on a retreat…read moreand they did a fantastic job. The scholars had fun, it was goofy, it didnt makes sense, they did multiple games. It was awesome and silly and everything we want it to be to kickoff the retreat! Highly recommend!

Absolutely hilarious! I love this group and all that they do! I've been fortunate enough to catch a…read morecouple of their shows when they have travelled to Baton Rouge. If you have a chance to see them live, do it! Also check out their workshops and everything they are doing in the New Orleans area. There are many reasons to get involved in improv comedy and you don't have to be funny! Give it a try, watch a show, and support local theater :) Thanks for being so awesome!

What a hidden gem. Attended the Joe Jackson concert on Father's Day. My first time at the Joy since…read morethe renovations. What an amazing, intimate venue. The sound was great, the staff so professional. Extra shout out to Brian for going far and beyond what you would normally find with a small issue. 5 star experience!

Attended the Joy Theater to see the comedian Mojobrookzz. This venue is not a comedy club. It's a…read moretheatre. So seating is very compact. No Food served. Only alcohol so it's good that we ate before coming. The staff processed everyone through the doors quickly once open and showed everyone to their seating in a timely manner. We sat in the Mezzanine which provided good view of the stage.

Wonderful group and venue. First time going and the vibe was supportive and fun. I would definitely…read morego again and recommend for anyone doing comedy improv.

I heard about a movie trivia night happening here, and wanted to go. Couldn't find anything online…read moreto give me a sense of the place, so I asked a couple friends to join so we could check it out together. It's a mixed use space focusing on improv and theater, with a bar, area for art market and dance studio upstairs! What a delight! We took second place in trivia and look forward to future events and activities!

After a great dinner we decided to stop by 30/90 for some live music. Shoutout to Velvet…read morecollective, this band was spectacular and I highly recommend that you support them and 30/90 when in town. Fun vibes Great priced drinks It's a bar that keeps you rocking

This place came recommended by my Lyft driver as a great spot for a live band while in Nola to get…read moreaway from the craziness on Bourbon. Arrived in time for happy hour and the live band. I got a few craft beers that I love for a great price and oysters are $1 each. Great deal so I enjoyed 6 of them. Love some good fresh oysters with an ice cold beer and some good music. 2 bands performed and they were great. I went alone so I left a little early but it was a whole vibe. Will definitely go back when I am back in town. Frenchmen street is definitely the vibe vs Bourbon street!!! Hope to try more on their menu in the future as well!!

This is the best show in New Orleans! My wife and I stumbled across this show by accident, and we…read morewere glad we did! Dante is one of the most talented magicians and entertainers that we've seen, and we've seen every magician in Las Vegas. Don't miss this show! Two thumbs up!!!

Dante the Magician is as entertaining, charming and polished as they come. I've seen him perform…read moremany times and he can always command a crowd - making everyone feel good while mesmerizing with magic. A warm and amazing fixture in New Orleans.